Chicago Arab American Organizations

Arab American Bar Association
PO Box 81325
Chicago IL 60681
312/946-0110

William Haddad, Executive Director
Review: One of the most dependable organizations in Chicagoland. Very active in local professional legal matters and events, supportive of all Arab American individuals, and active in reviewing the credentials of local judges in election campaigns.

Vanguards for Human Rights and Freedom
Ali Al-Arabi, President
PO Box 1224
LaGrange Park, IL 60526
708-442-8990
Fax: 708-442-9027

Review: Organizes meetings to address issues of bigotry and discrimination between victims, support groups and government agencies. Very effective as witnessed recently in Orland Park where dozens of Arab residents complained about bigotry there. Al-Arabi organized the meeting with Mayor McLaughlin and Police Chief McCarthy and the mayor vowed to create several community liaisons to address Arab American concerns.

Chicago Association of Arab American Journalist's and Communicators
Last updated July 21, 2001
PO Box 2127
Orland Park, IL 60462
708-403-3380 V/F

rayhanania@aol.com

Review: Sponsors the annual Arab American Writers Conference each year in Chicago. Sponsors bi-monthly meetings with journalists and communications professionals. A reorganization of the former Association of Arab American Journalists founded in 1986 - 1990. The only professional writer's forum for Arab American's in the Chicago area. Has more than 71 members in Chicago.

Arab American Chicagoland Census Organization
7905 S. Cicero Ave
Suite 200
Chicago IL 60652
773-735-7755
Fax: 773-735-8466

Review: The official Arab American census effort in Chicago region. Works with the US Census office and Arab American Census Representative Anna Mustafa.

American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
ADC Chicago Chapter
Shafic Budron, PHD, President
10005 Roberts Road, Suite B
Palos Hills, IL 60465 (847) 489-7999
adcChicago@turbotool.com
http://www.adcchicago.org/

Review: Very active Chicago chapter with a new board of directors. Visit the parent organization web site at http://www.adc.org/

United Holy Land Fund
6000 W. 79th Street
Lower Level
Burbank, IL 60543
708-430-9731

Review: Proven charitable source with an excellent reputation for supporting programs and needy projects in the Arab Countries, especially in Palestine.

The Lifta Association for Charity
Lifta Association for Charity
P.O. Box 528247
Chicago, IL 60652

Mofeed Bages, President
773-418-1564
Club House Location:
6000 W. 79th Street
Burbank, IL
708-599-3300

Review: The Lifta Association is a charitable organization working for the benefit of its members and the Arab community at large. It organizes educational, social and cultural activities. Its center is at 6000 W. 79th St., Lower Level in Burbank, IL and is open most evenings. A weekly tutoring program offers children instruction in Arabic language. Picnics and family outings are arranged throughout the year. Guest speakers have included: Dr. Bassam Jody (president of Mosque Foundation); Dr. Abdul-Atheem Siddiq; Dr. Ahmad Al-Kofahi; Imams from all mosques in the Chicagoland area; Joyce Murphy (attorney); Khalil Shannak (board member of the Lifta Arab Organization of Amman, Jordan); Anna Mustafa (US census); Dr. Rashid Khalidi (U of Chicago). These have all been open to the public.

ALSAC St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Assn.
PO Box 2190 Dept. JES
Oak Park, IL 60603
708-358-0330
FAX: 708-383-3992

Review: Charitable social service organization that helps raise funds and supports St. Jude's Children Hospital. Primarily Leanese and Syrian American, but has many board members of Palestinian and Jordanian heritage on its board.

AA Assn. of Engineers & Architects
P.O. Box 2160
Bridgeview, IL 60455
708-802-1148
Dr. Ahmad Hammad, President

E-mail: aaaea@aaaea.org
webpage: http://www.aaaea.org/

Review: Influential professional organization for engineers and architects of Arab American heritage.

Jordanian Arab American Business Assn
Ihsan Sweiss
PO Box 671
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
708-599-1300
FAX: 708-599-2121
E-mail: vojnews@aol.com

Review: An affiliate of the Voice of Jordan Newspaper.

The Ramallah Club of Chicago
Sam Salamy, President
2700 N. Central Ave
Chicago IL 60639
FAX 773-237-0214

Review: Palestinians from the Town of Ramallah constitute nearly 50 percent of all the Palestinians who live in the Chicago area. This is also a chapter of one of the largest national grassroots social organizations in the country, the Ramallah Federation of Palestine.

Turmus Siya Palestine Club
1257 N. Milwaukee Ave, 3rd Floor
Chicago, Il., 60613

Review: Organization of Americans originating from the Palestinian village of Turmus Siya.

Chicago Islamic Cultural Center
3357 W. 63rd Street
Chicago IL 60629
773-436-8083
773-436-8785 fax

Fuheis American Association of Chicago
http://fuheisclub.org/
Samih Ayed Sweis, President
7905 S. Cicero Ave, Ste 206
Chicago, IL 60652
telephone # 773-284-0201
fax# 773-284-0210.

Arab American Educational Council
Frank Bustany
708-243-7523

Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights
Juliette Abu-Ayoun
http://www.icirr.org/
36 S. Wabash Ave, Suite 1425
Chicago IL 60603
312/332-7360
FAX: 312/332-7044
info@icirr.org

Committee for a Democratic Palestine
Younis Al-Jazaran
773-672-1290

Palestine American Community Center
AbdelGhafer Al-Arouri, President
708-233-6623
6000 W. 79th Street
Burbank, IL 60453

Review: This is the largest organization representing Christian and Muslim Palestinians in the Chicagoland area.

Beitunia American Club
Kayyad Hassan, President
708-923-6312
708-923-7301 FAX

Miriam Zayed, Board member
708-349-4828

Background: Beitunia is the sister city of Ramallah located in the West Bank, Palestine. Palestinians from Beitunia and Ramallah make up about 90 percent of the Palestinians in the Chicagoland area, split equally.

Advisory Commission on Arab Affairs
Chicago Commission on Human Relations
740 N. Sedgwick St, Suite 300
Chicago IL 60610
312-744-4115
312-744-1081

Background: Created in the 1980s, basically takes direction from Mayor Daley and Commissioner Wood on practices of discrimination. Has never filed one suit on any issue of bigotry and is somewhat controversial concerning its effectiveness.

Muslim Americans for Civil Rights and Legal Defense
Kausar Ahmad
last updated May 10, 2001
7667 W. 95th St, Suite 2 W
Hickory Hills, IL 60457
708-598-6640
info@muslimcivilrights.com
www.muslimcivilrights.com

Background: Active in defending Arab Americans and Muslims targeted by bigoted and discriminatory practices by the Justice Department and INS. Very large constituency, including in the Southwest Suburbs. Has sponsored several programs and conferences in the past.

RAWI
Radius of Arab American Writers, Inc.
Leila Diab, co-founder/writer
P.O.B. 2164
Bridgeview, IL 60455
ldiab@aol.com

A professional network of writers of Arab heritage - writers, poets, novelists, editors, screen writers, filmmakers, journalists, translators, researchers, calligraphers, book illustrators, children's book designers - Membership $25 annually for writers; $10 for students - entitles members to RAWI 's quarterly newsletter, a members' directory and other services.

Now available RAWI's first anthology, A Different Path, (Ridgeway Press) edited by DH Melhem and Leila Diab - $12 plus $2 for shipping and handling.

Aqsa School
7361 W. 92nd Place
Bridgeview, Illinois

Information: The Aqsa School for Girl's, First Islamic all girl's school in Chicagoland, celebrating our 15th Year (by the way, if you would help publicize Saturday, 28th of April , 2001, our annual dinner, Sponsorship donations $1000.00, tickets$125.00 ). A registered not for profit organization, Board of Trustees, Chairman Mr. Tawfik Nassar, Sec.-Treasurer Dr. Mahmoud Ismail, Executive Director Mr. Faysal Mohamed, oversees operation of Administration and Staff. Principal Ms. Judy Maher. Fully accredited by State of Illinois, Classes taught, girls, preschool thru 4th year High School, boys, preschool thru 4th grade Elementary School, an independent institution funded only by tuition's and donations.

Midwest Federation of Syrian & Lebanese Clubs
PO Box 6835
Villa Park, IL 60181-6835
Emil Haddad, coordinator
Jackie Haddad, Chairman
Web page: http://www.midwestfederation.org/

Information: The Midwest Federation of Syrian and Lebanese Clubs is one of the longest existing organizations of Arab Americans in the country with chapters in cities throughout the United States, including in Chicago.

Arab American Republican Federation
12231 W. Lady Bar Lane
Orland Park, IL 60462-1085

Shibli Sawalha, Ph.D.

Information: Shibli Sawalha has been a leader in Arab American political activism for more than 36 years in the Southwest Suburbs, actively involved in the Republican Party and serving as a Precinct Committeeman in the 14th Congressional District.

Islamic Community Center of Illinois
Updated May 1, 2001
4003 W. Montrose Ave
Chicago IL 60641
773-725-5020
773-725-4103

Information: Yousif Marei hosts through the ICCI the very popular Arab Community Radio Show every Sunday at 4 pm on WCEV (1450 AM) radio. They are building a new center to be opened soon at 6435 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago.

American Islamic College of Chicago
640 W. Irving Park Rd
Chicago IL 60613
773-281-4700

Dr. Assad Busool
Information: Center of Islamic study and academic teaching on the Islamic religion

American Friends Service Committee
637 S. Dearborn, 3rd Floor,
Chicago, IL 60605.
Tele: 312-427-2533.

Jennifer Bing-Canar, Middle East program Director

Arab American Medical Association
Lilly Hussein, MD, President
11025 Terrace Lane
Hillside, IL 60102
312-633-7117

Arab American Family Services
Itedal Shalabi
Nareman
5440 W 87th Street Burbank, IL 60459
Phone: (708) 229-2314
Fax: (708) 229-2601

Information: One of the premier social service organizations in Chicago..

United Muslim Americans Association (UMAA)
Sabri Samirah
10661 S. Roberts Rd, # 202
Palos Hills, IL 60465
708-974-4472
FAX: 708-974-3389
http://www.theumaa.org/

Information: One of the premier social service organizations in Chicago..

Arab Business & Professional Assn (ABPA)
Talat Othman, President
3432 Monitor Lane
Long Grove, IL 60047

Information: Chicagoland business and professional organization

Institute for International & Cultural Studies
North Park University
3225 W. Foster Ave
Chicago IL 60625
773-244-5592
FAX: 773-583-0858
Robert Hostetter
773-244-5666

Information: Very active and strong program of Middle East studies and activities.

Lebanese Club of Chicago
PO Box 235
Gurnee, IL 60031
847-549-9417
www.leb.net/clc

M.htmaha Noujeme, President
Mark Bendok, VP
Doug Haddad, PR
Elie Dabdab, Treasurer
Nohra Masr, Secretary

Information: One of the leading Lebanese American organizations in the Midwest.